Spraying apparatus



4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. H. MURPHY SPRAYING APPARATUS April 7, 1953 Filed April 11, 1951 A v INVENTOR, 'J5/1n Hn/ur/ohy.

April 7, 1953 J.. H. MURPHY SPRAYING APPARATUS Filed April 11, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IINVENTOR, John H.. /'7 urpy.

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4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l dulluhull lu JNVENTO l .Il .fhaninuu J. H. MURPHY SPRAYING APPARATUS April 7, 1953 Filed April 11, 1951 Patented Apr. 7, i953 [STATES rATENr j orricie'.V

2,634,165 sPRaYfING APPARATUS l John Holmes Murphy, Gadsden, Ala. Applicationnpru 11, 1951, seriaiNo. 220,491

invention relates to l a spraying apparatus( Y- y An object of-this invention is to combine an efficiently supported deck or platform, an airplane, control means and supply means in producing-a newand useful spraying apparatus.

' Another objectof this invention is to produce an eiicient spraying apparatus for `placini'; al spray of liquid or pow-der overterrain to fertilize agricultural crops, and/or control pests, etc. of all types, especially those affecting citrus trees and cottonplants.

A still further object of this invention is the production of a spraying apparatus which is morey economical than a conventional or mancarrying airplane; also in addition it may ny in congested areas of trees and cover remote' areas with the desired spray; it may also spray hillside crops by the operator forcing the airplane to fly overthecontour of the hill.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention comprise-s certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements'of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying` drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings-z Figure 1 isa view in front elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention.v vFigure-2 is a top plan view.

Figure Suis a fragmentary view partly in sections showing particularly the control reel, while Figure 4 is another sectional view thereof.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary View, partly in section, and showing particularly the hose reel.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional View of the hollow standard and the-supply pipe therein.

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the rota-ry Vball-bearing connecting device.

` FigurefS-is an enlargedviewin side elevation offthe miniatureairplane of this invention.

Figure 9 is av top plan view of the airplane.

FigurelO isla diagram showing partly in dotted lines twoy airplanes on-`a rectangularsupport. Figure 11 is a diagram showing partly in section the airplanes and the course of travel over a'triangular support.

Figure 12 is a diagram of rows of trees with the apparatus positioned to travel between the rows.

Figure 13v isV a' diagram of a hill and illustratingthe manner of applying this apparatus for treating the surface of the hill. Referring to the drawings in which the preferred embodiment of this invention is illus,- trated, I designates. a` platform or` deck which is preferably'circular in shape. The deck I is supported by adjustable sectional legs 2. Each leg 2 comprisesv an upper section 3 and a lower section 4. 'I'hese sections-are provided with apertures 5, dotted lines, in which are placedfastening means 5; whereby the sections 'of the legs 2 can belad- -6 claims. (c1. 29e-ss)` lusted toy suit" conditions, suchf as shownin Fig. 12.

and then retained inthe adjusted position. vThe legs 2 are preferably fastened to the bottom of the`r deck: I- by means of angle brackets 1, Fig. 1v.'

Wheels 8 `are suitably attached to the lower sec-V tions 4 whereby' the deck I is wheeled todifferent positions. An auxiliary platform 9 is` mounted on the upper sections 3y directly under the deck I. On the auxiliary platform 9" is mounteda powder or liquid tank I0, a pump II, a compressor or air tank I2 and a motor I3. Secured to the top of the deck I is a hollow standard I4. A supply pipe I5V extends through the hollow standard I4 and is connectedY at its lower endv to they pump II.` A spray valve I6 (Fig. 6) is on the supply pipe I5; A ball-bearing sleeve Ia is mounted on standard I4. A bracket l1 isfastened to the side of the rotaryf'sleeve I5a. Mounted on the bracket I1 is a hose reel I8` on which is coiled a hose or supply tube I9'. A handle 2B is on the hose reel I8 whereby the operator can control the winding in or playing out the hose I9 as desired. Thehose I9 is connected by a, rotaryballebearing connecting device 2| to the outer end'` of the supply hose or pipe I5 (Fig. 7). Therefore, it will beseenV that when the voperator desires, he can cause powder or liquid to be passed through the supply pipe I5.

A bracket 2i isfastened to the side of therotary sleeve I5aand pivotally mounted at 2 la is a control reel 22. The control reel 22 is provided with an upper drum 23, andv a lower drum 24. Fixedly secured to these drums 23 and 24 are Asprocket wheels `25. A sprocket chain 26, Fig. 3; is mounted on said wheels 25 whereby when the crank 21 is rotated, the drums 23'- and 24 `will berotated to wind the control means 28, whichv are shown as wires, thereon or to feed them out-` Ward tocontrol the miniature airplane-29. This airplane'is provided with a wingr 30. The con- ,trol wires 28, Fig. 8, preferably extend' to the bell cranks-3| whichl bell cranks are connected to the stabilizers 32. A supply tube 33 extends partly throughl the wing 30 and its outer end projects beyond the rear of the airplanes as shown in Figure 8. Hence, liquid or powder passing through the supply tube 33 is discharged as the airplane travels over the surface to be treated; It is understood that the supplyhose I9 is connected at 34, Fig. 8, to the supply-tube 33;

A grip 35 isxedly secured to the upper end of the control reel 22f whereby when the operator desires the airplane29 to climb, heV will apply pressure on the grip 35 to pull the control wire and thereby makel the airplane climb, or by swinging the control reel inan opposite direction the airplane will be caused to moved downward; It is to be understood that there is no rudder control', but onlyA stabilizer control: Thev rudder 36 is set an an angle to cause the-airplane tohave a tendency to fly awayV from the deck I. vTo counterbalance the attaching of the supply tube I9 and thecontrol'wires 2 81to one end of thewings30,

starts the motor of the airplane 29. At the sameY time the assistant regulates the motor to cause its perfect operation. The airplane is resting on the deck I while this starting action is taking place, and when the assistant releases the plane it starts its travel in a circle over the deck and as the airplane gains suicient speed the operator applies pressure tothe control stick or grip 35 to cause the airplane to start to climb. After a few feet of altitude is gained the operator reels both tube or hose I9 and control wires 28 out to the desired distance. The spray valve I6 is then adjusted to cause the desired amount of spray, or powder to be discharged.

The assistant can, after launching the airplane, proceed to the edge of the deck to direct the operator with signals as the case may be.

In Figure 12 is shown this spraying apparatus Working over a hill so as to treat the growth or vegetation on the hill. In this position the four legs 2 are adjusted to accommodate the apparatus to the uneven ground.

In Figure 11 the apparatus is shown as being positioned between two rows of citrus trees, preferably orange trees. In this position, the spraying apparatus is admirably adapted to spray the trees of the two contiguous rows.

Figure 9 shows a diagram of a rectangular positioning of two spraying apparatuses while in Figure 10 the positioning of the airplane is illustrated in a triangular position.

It is to be understood that it is optional with the operator whether the tank I contains powder or a liquid. The tank lil is suitably convnected to the pump I I. The motor I3 is suitably connected to the tank I2, and tank I2 is suitably connected to pump I I.

While I have described the preferred embodiment of the invention and illustrated the same in the accompanying drawings, certain minor changes or alterations may appear to one skilled in the art to which this invention relates during the extensive manufacture of the same, and I, therefore, reserve the right to make such changes or alterations as shall fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a frame including a deck and legs supporting said deck, said'legs being independently adjustable for length and having means for securing them in adjusted positions, of a source of spray supply supported on said frame, a motor driven airplane resting on said deck upon its motor being out of operation, a spray nozzle carried by said airplane, tubular `connecting means leading from said spray supply to said spray nozzle, and means to control the eiective length of said connecting means.

2. The combination with a frame including a deck and legs supporting said deck, said legs being independently adjustable for length and having means for securing them in adjusted positions, of a source of spray supply supported on said frame, a motor drivenairplane resting on said deck upon its motor being out of operation, a spray nozzle carried by said airplane, tubular connecting means leading from said spray supply to said spray nozzle, said connecting means including a flexible portion constituting a tether 4 attaching the airplane to the frame, and means to control the eiective length of the tether.

3. The combination with a frame including a deck and legs supporting said deck, of a source of spray supply supported on said frame, a motor driven airplane resting on said deck upon its motor being out of operation, a spray nozzle carried by said airplane, tubular connecting means leading from said spray supply to said spray nozzle, means to control the effective length of said connecting means, soaring and diving controlling means carried by said airplane, and means on said frame for controlling said soaring and diving means and having flexible and extensible connection therewith.

4. The combination with a frame including a deck and legs supporting said deck, of a source of spray supply supported on said frame, a motor driven airplane resting on said deck upon its motor being out of operation, a spray nozzle carried byv said airplane, tubular connecting means leading from said spray supply to said spray nozzle, said connecting means including a flexible portion constituting a tether attaching the airplane to the frame, and means to control the effective length of the tether, soaring and diving controlling means carried by said airplane, and means on said frame for controlling said soaring and diving means and having exible and extensible connection therewith.

5. The combination with a frame including a deck and legs supporting said deck, said legs being independently adjustable for length and having means for securing them in adjusted positions, of a source of spray supply supported on said frame, a motor driven airplane resting on said deck upon its motor being out of operation, a spray nozzle carried by said airplane, tubular connecting means leading from said spray supply to said spray nozzle, means to control the effective length of said connecting means, soaring and diving controlling means carried by said airplane, and means on said frame for controlling said soaring and diving means and having iiexible and extensible connection therewith.

6. The combination with a frame including a deck and legs supporting said deck, said legs being independently adjustable for length and having means for securing them in adjusted positions, of a source of spray supply supported on said frame, a motor driven airplane resting on said deck upon its motor being out of operation, a spray nozzle carried by said airplane, tubular connecting means leading from said spray supply to said spray nozzle, said connecting means including a flexible portion constituting a tether attaching the airplane to the frame, means to control the effective length of the tether, soaring and diving controlling means carried by said airplane, and means on said frame for controlling said soaring and diving means and having flexible and extensible connection therewith.

JOHN HOLMES MURPHY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,497,555 Donaldson et al. June 10, 1924 1,514,602 Charland Nov. 11, 1927 1,869,487 Lefevre et al Aug. 2, 1932 1,925,212 Steiber Sept. 5, 1933 

